Iraq Launches Major Seawater Desalination Project in Basra
Iraq has begun work on its first large‑scale seawater desalination plant. It is located near the Grand Faw Port in Basra. The project was officially launched in July 2025 by the Prime Minister’s office. (Iraq Business News)
The plant will produce 1 million cubic meters of fresh water per day. It will serve 3 to 4 million people in Basra and nearby areas. (Kalam)
It includes three parallel lines of reverse‑osmosis desalination, a 300 MW power plant to run the facility, and 240 km of pipelines linking nine major distribution centers across the governorate. (IFP Info - News)
Commercial operations are planned to begin in June 2028. (Gulf Construction Online)
Why Basra Needs This Project
Basra has faced its worst drinking water crisis in 80 years. Citizens have protested. Rivers are polluted or saline. (Iraqi News)
River flow from the Tigris and Euphrates is low. This is due to upstream dams and climate change. Saline seawater has intruded far upstream into the Shatt al‑Arab. (شفق نيوز)
Local mismanagement and illegal water usage have made matters worse. For example, unregulated fish farms draw large amounts of river water. (Kalam, 964media, Iraqi News)
Desalination has long been proposed. Past projects were delayed or poorly carried out due to bureaucracy and corruption.
How the New Project Helps Both Major Rivers
1. Ease Pressure on River Water Sources
By bringing seawater inland and converting it to fresh water, the plant will reduce demand on the Tigris and Euphrates. This helps to preserve scarce river water for agriculture, nature, and public supply where it is available.
2. Provide Safe Drinking Water
River water in Basra is often too saline or polluted to drink. Desalinated water will be clean and safe. It will serve millions, cutting the risk of waterborne illness.
3. Support Inland Water Use
Water can be piped from Basra into nearby areas that now rely on brittle river systems. This helps distribute demand and reduces dependence on seasonal river flow.
4. Offer Regional Water Security
This large-scale infrastructure reduces the impact of poor rainfall and upstream reductions. It also gives Iraq a domestic source of potable water independent of river flow variations. (Al Sharqiya, Kalam)
What Comes Next?
Several smaller facilities are already underway. These include desalination units in Shatt al‑Arab, Al‑Faw, Al‑Siba and Safwan — each with capacities between 1,000 and 5,000 m³ per hour. (Gulf Construction Online)
The government aims to speed up implementation by moving project control to local authorities. The governorate now directly oversees the Basra plant contract. (Kalam, 964media)
Still, success depends on tackling corruption and mismanagement. Experts say strong oversight, transparent bidding, and independent auditing are vital. (Kalam)
Prime Minister Al‑Sudani has emphasized diplomacy to improve river flow from Türkiye, alongside these desalination efforts. (964media)
Conclusion: A Step Toward Solving Iraq’s Water Crisis
This new Basra desalination project is a key step forward. It has the power to deliver reliable drinking water to millions. It can reduce pressure on the Tigris and Euphrates. And it bolsters Iraq’s resilience in the face of climate change and upstream water limits.
With proper governance and strong follow‑through, it may finally help end the long cycle of water scarcity in southern Iraq.
